Edmonton Oilers: Justin Schultz is Finding Rhythm

Last season, If you came to me and asked what my thoughts were about Justin Schultz, I would tell you how frustrated I am with his passive aggressive play and the lack of progression we are seeing in his game. Now, with the regular season rapidly approaching, Schultz has proved to me that this year, he means business.

I realize pre season doesn’t mean very much. Teams ice rosters filled with AHL players most games. The intensity and pace of pre-season games majorly differentiates from the level of regular season action. Things seem a lot slower, sloppy and uneventful. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t see great things happen that will reflect positive results for a player and their team heading into the regular season. Pre season is very important for players that have something to prove after all.

We know that when Schultz signed with the Edmonton Oilers back in 2012, expectations were set incredibly high. The hype about him was astronomical and bold predictions were made about his future. He was branded as the golden boy and saviour of the Oilers blue line before he even touched a skate blade on an NHL ice surface.

I think personally, he was overhyped since the moment he came to Edmonton. Expectations were too unrealistic. Not to say he doesn’t have the talent to be a capable defensemen. I don’t think he’s ever going to be a “Norris Trophy candidate”, as Craig Mactavish put it. The fact is that Schultz, now 25 years old just hasn’t been as good as advertised, but this does not mean he is a lost cause altogether.

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It is imperative for his success as an NHL defensemen to clean up certain aspects of his game. The most important elements in his game that he must focus on improving is defensive play, compete level and aggression. At times it looks like he is not giving enough effort. I don’t see a player that is willing to sacrifice and do whatever it takes to win games when I watch Schultz play. He looks too comfortable in Edmonton. Too cool for school. He has had a massively long leash for too long. Craig Mactavish and former management allowed Schultz to make the same mistakes over and over again which hurt his development and character. Almost at all costs he avoids physical play whether it be landing a solid hit or getting involved in scrums. There have been many times where Schultz had chances to shoot the puck but elected to pass instead. He has to shoot more. The most concerning issue of them all is Schultz’ shaky defensive play. He gives the puck away too often and opposing players easily beat him in an offensive rush. Many times, he has been caught out of position in the defensive zone which has costed the Oilers many goals against.

Having said that, Schultz is a great puck mover with tremendous skill. He likes to rush the puck up the ice and create an offensive attack whenever he can. There is no question he is gifted with puck handling skill and a persistent shot. His shot is most effective when he is positioned in the slot on the top half of the face off circle in the offensive zone. Quite often on the power play, he receives a pass when he enters that area. Its a great spot for him to use his accurate shot effectively. Another major strength Schultz possesses is his skating ability. He is a very fast, smooth skater with lots of power in his stride. When he skates with the puck, it can be hard to catch him. He clearly has all of the tools to be an effective offensive defensemen.

The Oilers have struggled to gain consistent offence in the past few seasons. Schultz has been the top scoring defensemen for the Oilers for 3 years in a row. He was 9 points shy of a 40 point season last year. It’s pretty hard to find defensemen in today’s NHL that is a right handed shot and can put up decent offensive numbers. For a team like the Oilers who lack an offensive punch on their blueline, Schultz provides value.

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I have seen a lot of positives in Schultz game so far in pre-season. Again, I know the competition isn’t exactly regular season NHL calibre but it’s still a great sign to see Schultz playing well. He has been a factor in the games he played in. There is obviously a decent level of confidence in him. He is rushing the puck up the ice and creating effective, offensive chances. His positioning in all areas of the ice looks much better. On the power play, Schultz is moving the puck well and is actually using opportunities to shoot the puck more often. The game against the Winnipeg Jets in particular was a strong game for Schultz. He played a terrific two-way game, contributing in all areas and scored a nice goal from the top half of the slot. What stood out the most that game was his heroic response to Oscar Klefbom taking a late hit. Schultz jumped into the scrum and stood up for his teammate. I respect him for doing that. You cannot teach someone to be mean, but Schultz is starting to show that he can fight back and is no pushover.

Schultz signed a 1 year deal in the offseason with the Oilers. Right off the bat we know that this contract represents a “last chance” scenario for the right handed rearguard. It’s time for him to deliver the goods. We are seeing positive steps in the right direction from Schultz in pre-season. However, If he can’t perform up to standards and show some improvement in the regular season, it will be time for the Oilers to consider moving on from him. You can’t wait on the guy forever, but at the same time Schultz has world class talent and he is due for a breakout season. From here on out, it will be a waiting game to see if Schultz can respond with improved, strong play for the Oilers this year. So far, he looks poised and ready to prove himself.

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